As automakers advance hydrogen vehicle technology, ensuring the safety and durability of hydrogen fuel tanks is paramount. While High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is commonly used in tank manufacturing, it requires thicker walls to meet permeation standards and is prone to blistering. Standard PA6 materials offer a cost-effective solution with excellent thermal resistance but may become brittle at sub-zero temperatures. Manufacturers looking to stay ahead of the competition need a thermoplastic solution that balances design, performance, and cost.
Our Durethan® and Akulon® Fuel Lock PA6 materials provide superior thermal stability, greater impact resistance down to -60°C, and better barrier performance than conventional PA6 alternatives. Suitable for both thermoset and thermoplastic composites, these materials ensure safe, lightweight, and sustainable pressurized hydrogen tanks.
Steel, aluminum, and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) are commonly used materials for hydrogen tanks, but each has limitations. Steel is three times heavier than plastic and more expensive, while aluminum is lighter than steel but still not as light as plastic. HDPE has higher permeation and a greater risk of blistering. Advanced Polyamide 6 (PA6) materials provide a superior alternative, offering lightweight durability, low permeation, excellent thermal performance, and cost-effective monolayer processing.
Akulon® is our family of high performance polyamide 6 and polyamide 66 materials, used by customers across the world in applications ranging from automotive, electronics & electrical, to furniture and packaging.
We offer Akulon® grades for injection molding, blow molding and extrusion (including barrier film, stock shapes, convoluted tubes, and mono and multi filament).
In molded parts the material offers an excellent balance of easy design and processing with outstanding mechanical properties over a wide temperature range and in diverse conditions. Meanwhile for extrusion the strength, resilience and easy processing of Akulon® sets the market standards.
Akulon® is our family of high performance polyamide 6 and polyamide 66 materials, used by customers across the world in applications ranging from automotive, electronics & electrical, to furniture and packaging.
We offer Akulon® grades for injection molding, blow molding and extrusion (including barrier film, stock shapes, convoluted tubes, and mono and multi filament).
In molded parts the material offers an excellent balance of easy design and processing with outstanding mechanical properties over a wide temperature range and in diverse conditions. Meanwhile for extrusion the strength, resilience and easy processing of Akulon® sets the market standards.
Durethan® is the trade name for our range of engineering thermoplastics based on polyamide 6 and polyamide 66. These polyamides are partially crystalline thermoplastics which offer an ideal combination of properties, especially for technical applications. They provide high mechanical strength and stiffness, good dielectric properties, high resistance to both heat and chemical attack, and good friction and wear properties.
Direct and easy access to our broad portfolio of high-performance plastics: request a quote or order a sample. You can also simply ask our Hydrogen Tanks experts.
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